Stitch a book bag or tote bag that reflects your little sewing partner’s interests. Nancy’s easy step-by step instructions, and patterns, are included in her new book, I Sew For Fun. Follow Nancy’s new team sewing approach and just have fun!

Gather Supplies

Give your little partner just a few fabric choices and allow them to choose two favorite fabrics.

Optional: Add an Appliqué

Your little partner will use this charmingly classic bag to carry books to music class, dance shoes to dance class, or games to grandma’s house.

65 Comments

I miss Nancy so much. Words can’t describe how much I miss her knowledge and skills. I know this is probably not the place to post this, but I just miss her so.

My shop is dedicated to her: “My shop is dedicated to the loving memory of Nancy Zieman – the true Mother of Sewing.”

Nancy S.

Doreen LinehanFebruary 20, 2018

I’d start with the sleeping bag for the doll & then the skirt for the doll. My grand-daughter loves her American Girl dolls.

E. WatsonFebruary 17, 2018

I would make the drawstring backpack or the two-piece block quilt, or both!!!

CAROLFebruary 13, 2018

I REALLY LIKE THE TOTE. THAT IS A GREAT GIFT IDEA!

Linda StockdaleFebruary 13, 2018

I’m going for the tote bag. She loves to carry around bags with her toys and stuff. It’s so cute and handy besides.

SarahFebruary 12, 2018

The two-piece block quilt is what I would choose to make .

GunillaFebruary 12, 2018

I’ll start with the Stuffed Animal Sleeping Bags because any child will love that one. If I were to choose I would continue with the Owl Pillow (if they don’t pick that pattern, I’ll make one myself for my granchildren’s place in my house). Seems to be a great book!

This is such a great idea to help young sewers learn and for grandmother’s or other adults to share their love of sewing. What a great thing for Nancy to have given this example and guide line.

BevFebruary 4, 2018

Wow, it’s hard to decide on just one. I would love to make them all but would start with the sleeping bag for their dolls. I have 5 year old twin granddaughters. Santa brought them several Wellie Wisher dolls for Christmas and they need a place to sleep! He also brought them sewing machines and are eager to learn to sew.

Jenny MooreFebruary 4, 2018

I would love to make this book bag with my Granddaughter. There are so many great ideas, that it was hard to pick just one.

Mo LFebruary 4, 2018

Tote bag with shorter dimensions, he’s 2 1/2 and a long bag with long straps would be harder to carry,
We also would pick car/truck or paw patrol fabric.
We might make 2, one for vehicles and one for his little paw patrol dogs.

judyFebruary 4, 2018

I think the older two great granddaughters would like to do the skirt as they are about clothes at 8 yrs old. The third one would maybe do that too until she sees the owl pillow. She is 5 and all about owls. I’m sure there are many things they’d like to do, although they are pretty good at asking grandma or great auntie to make them things.

There are so many good projects shown! My little granddaughter, Shelby, would love the music note tote bag. She plays the piano, and it would be perfect for her. I enjoy sewing with her so much. She’s only 10, but she’s learned so fast.

BridgetFebruary 3, 2018

I’d like to make the art caddy with my little friend. It would be great for travel!

ClovisFebruary 3, 2018

I would go for the bag. You can never have too many bags.

GailFebruary 3, 2018

We’d make a little quilt for her baby doll.

GailFebruary 3, 2018

We’d make a quilt for a baby doll.

Barbara GravesFebruary 3, 2018

I would love to make the girls skirt with matching doll skirt with my granddaughter. She received an American girl doll for Christmas and would love some additional clothes for her—and if they happen to match her OWN clothes, that would be even sweeter!

TinaFebruary 3, 2018

I would love to sew the tote bag with my daughter. My daughter takes piano and would love it.

JudyFebruary 3, 2018

Iwould love to teach my granddaughter to sew, when she has the time. She would be very interested in the tote for a number of reasons….like for her brother for his legos, and younger sister for her Barbie dolls. She has lots of uses.

Mary Kay SchwarzFebruary 3, 2018

I would sew the musical note bag with my grandkids as they take piano lessons. It would be good to hold there music.

Peggy VFebruary 3, 2018

I would sew the musical tote with my granddaughter, she plays piano and the tote would be perfect for her music.

JaneFebruary 3, 2018

I introduced my 9 year old grand-daughter to
“Mr. Ripper”, my close friend, when she was making a pillowcase. Would be great to give her a ripper of her own to add to her stitching supplies.

Peggy WinifredFebruary 3, 2018

I think the pillowcase would be a starter, with my granddaughter making one for herself and one for her younger brother.

Joan DeaverFebruary 3, 2018

I would like to sew an I spy doll quilt with my granddaughter. I think that would be so much fun. We might need that seam ripper.

Eileen horanFebruary 3, 2018

I think my daughter would like to make the pillowcase. And I would love her (and me) to have the retractable seam ripper. What a grand idea!

Gail BeamFebruary 3, 2018

I think the pillowcase, the tote, and the art caddy would be my first picks, but Nancy presents so many fun projects in this book that it would be hard to choose. I think letting my grandchildren each pick one that they would like would be fun. Thanks for the chance to win another great notion .

Faith KingFebruary 3, 2018

I taught my daughter-in-law and young granddaughter to sew aprons at the same time. They pretty much had the same level of proficiency but granddaughter displayed so much confidence. she loved it while daughter-in-law chose to find other pursuits. Grand daughter went on to make lots of Quillows!h

Kathy MyersFebruary 3, 2018

I love these ideas. I’ve been helping two 6 year old twins learn to sew. Love the apron idea!

mary m youngFebruary 3, 2018

I bought the book for my twin granddaughter for Christmas. I thought it was a perfect starter incentive.

BonnyeFebruary 3, 2018

So many cute I’d eas. I liked the tote bags, aprons, skirt, and simple quilts. That should keep my granddaughter and I busy.

NiomiFebruary 3, 2018

Will start them out with the two-piece quilt pattern. Must get them to enjoy quilting. Then the apron and on and on.

BereniceFebruary 3, 2018

Every year at my daughters’ service organization’s annual convention, I teach young ladies how to make the very same tote bag that is shown above. We do not do the applique due to time constraints, but there is nothing like the look on those faces when they realize that indeed they too can sew! And it is a project they can use everyday and make more in just a few minutes.

Lynda AFebruary 3, 2018

I love making aprons for and with all ages. I would teach my special young friend to sew an apron with her favorite coordinating fabrics.

Chris HouseFebruary 3, 2018

Brings back memories of learning at laps of my great aunts at their treadle machine in the 1960′s who owned dress shop on Sunset Blvd in CA. Teaching sewing to youngsters can be rewarding for both teacher and student. As sewing/crafting adult, I am ever grateful for the 100′s of hours of instruction Nancy gave to the sewing world.

What a great idea of a retractable seam ripper! I am always afraid that my grand daughter will poke herself with the seam ripper(which we all use), when we are sewing together, just to be together and have some time for fun and learning.

Karen paytonFebruary 3, 2018

My daughter and I would love to make the music tote bag for her piano books

Mary SnyderFebruary 3, 2018

I would love to teach our granddaughters to sew, but do not have that pleasure. Maybe one day. I have “i Sew For Fun” just in case.

Teresa AlvaFebruary 3, 2018

If we had to choose one, my granddaughter and I would love to make the skirt and matching doll skirt. So many adorable projects!

Twyla JohnsonFebruary 3, 2018

The simple tote bags are very doable for 5 Granddaughters to make. Thanks for your tutorial.

Katherine OlerFebruary 3, 2018

I think the sleeping bag would be the one. My grand daughters all have stuffed animals who would love a sleepover with their favorite girl!

KarenFebruary 3, 2018

The I Spy quilt would be my first choice.

Wanda PhillipsFebruary 3, 2018

I have a niece who has so many dolls and the sleeping bag for stuffed animals would be perfect for some of her smaller dolls.

MaryFebruary 3, 2018

Oldest granddaughter is nearly 7 but lives in another state. I will be watching her for 2 weeks in May and would love to introduce her to sewing on the machine while I am there.

JanellFebruary 3, 2018

All the projects look like they would be really fun to make. I have 7 grand kids from 1-10. Five are boys, but they love working with the sewing machine too. I think I would start with the owl pillow. They are really into owls.

WendyFebruary 3, 2018

There are so many projects to choose from, but anything doll or toy related would have to be first on our list of projects to do together!

MaxFebruary 3, 2018

What a wonderful way to spend time with children. Everyone learning from each other.

Cindy KFebruary 3, 2018

The headband, the apron, the animal sleeping bag, the quilts, and several more projects would all appeal to my granddaughter. She is 4 years old and just recently finished (with grandmas help) a quilt for her new sister. Oh sew many fun projects in this book!

GloriaFebruary 3, 2018

Probably the sleeping bag for stuffed animals or dolls. Looks like fun with some really cute fabrics, Don’t know if I could stop at just a FEW choices!

DeWitt Donna MFebruary 3, 2018

I will be making this tote bag with my Great Granddaughters and Grandson. We will have so much fun working on these special projects. They love to sew. Thank You

ThunderFebruary 3, 2018

I would love to make a quillow with my #1 granddaughter.
Thanks for the chance.

LeslieFebruary 3, 2018

For my special we will make the tote bag first for all the cars and trucks that he must take everywhere we go. The we will make an apron for our cooking days together. All made from cars and trucks fabrics.